The undercover Russian contract killer has never turned down an assignment that rids the world of scum. But this … request is the first time his conscience gets the best of him. Only, he has a good reason—Everly Andrews, the woman who saved him from dying and has no clue who or what he really is. There’s nothing Roman won’t do to keep Everly in the dark, even if it means losing her in the process.

This is a three-part series, releasing every month, perfect for the summer!

REVIEW

The Request was a delicious quick escape that left me looking at my e-reader in puzzlement as to where the story had gone so fast? Almost like on a perfect sunny day when you are on a patio with a Stoli Spicy Peach cocktail and all of a sudden your glass is empty with seemingly no explanation other than it was just so good. The other thing that is readily apparent after reading The Request is that I am frequenting the wrong book stores. Not once, and I have been in a number, have I come across one manned by anyone resembling Roman nor one that has an easy chair for my sole use and as many cinnamon jelly beans (I substituted Everly’s preferred green apple jelly beans, as it’s my fantasy already) as I could eat. Granted if I ever found such a place they would have to bodily remove me.

Everly Andrews has found just such a place, she has her books shipped to a bookstore manned by a sinfully handsome man with a clientèle of one, herself. She just doesn’t know that salient fact. Roman knows he should discourage Everly from coming into the store, a front for his “real” business but he just can’t resist their weekly meetings as brief as they might be. Until his other life intervenes in the form of an assassin sent to exterminate Roman.

I greatly enjoyed The Request, my only complaint was that it was over too soon but I suppose I only have my reading gluttony to blame. Ms Valentine perfectly combined an unlikely heroine and a deliciously attractive assassin wrapped in a bookstore and I was completely sold as a result. Now while I might doubt the veracity of the existence of a bookseller who looks like Roman I will spend my time pondering this while I eagerly wait for the release of The Deception.

Penny Dreadful Book Reviews is happy to be hosting the FINAL part of the excerpt chain! Please be sure to check the excerpt chain schedule below to read all of them.

EXCERPT

The tips of her fingers touch my mouth, and a shudder rocks my body. A sharp inhalation of breath lets me know I’m not the only one affected. Lifting my eyes, I gaze up at her, sucking on the straw and letting the cool liquid ease the burning path that used to be my throat. A connection forms between us, and she leans closer, so close that I can smell the lingering shampoo and perfume she wears. My body goes hard, and my dick joins in. The thin sheet tents. Her eyes widen, and the cup shakes. The straw slips from my mouth.

“More,”

I demand, and her attention returns to my face. I wrap my hand around her wrist and bring the cup closer, parting my lips and waiting. She doesn’t hesitate. Her fingers touch my mouth, the straw glides in, and I imagine she’s doing this to me. Her mouth is on me, taking me inside…

“You can hold this; I need to go to the restroom to freshen up. I can’t possibly smell good,” she says, hurrying away. A smile kicks up the corner of my mouth. I haven’t felt like this in years. I haven’t felt like a man instead of just a contract killer. Sure, I’ve been with women. Women who were wealthy, beautiful, and as deadly as I am with a gun. Innocents like Everly Andrews have no place in my life. But the part of me she’s awakened doesn’t want to listen to that. That part of me wants her. Wants her smile, her laugh, her touch… her body. It wants to get to know her beyond my bookstore, to know what else she likes to drink besides hot cocoa. What else she likes to eat besides Granny Smith apple-flavoured jelly beans.

“I feel a bit better now, but I really need a shower,” she announces, walking back into my room from the private bathroom. “Will you be okay if I go home to change?”

I won’t be okay, but it has nothing to do with my health or safety. It has everything to do with her.

“The nurses will keep me sorted.”

Everly stares at me for a moment. “I could go to your place and bring back whatever you need.” The only thing I need is standing by my hospital bed.

“That’s not necessary.”

“But I really appreciate the offer,” I add before she mistakes my refusal as a rejection.

“One last question before I go,” she says, her smile turning shy.

“Ask away,” I softly command.

“Do you think you can call me Everly now? I mean, I did rescue you from the jaws of death.” She bites her lip, like she’s trying not to giggle. For the first time in years, I throw my head back and laugh, uncaring of how much it hurts to do so.

“God, yes. I’ll call you whatever you want, love.”

A uniformed officer walks inside, and my laughter fades away. This is the moment I’ve been dreading. “Mr. Smith, I’m Officer Jones, and I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

Everly’s gaze bounces to the officer. “Do you need me for anything?”

Officer Jones gives her an easy smile, one that speaks of familiarity. “You’ve been more than helpful, Ms. Andrews.”

“Great.”

She walks to me, her eyes soft as her fingers brush my hair back. I can’t help but wonder what she told the police. Has she betrayed me, without even knowing it? “I’ll see you later,” she says, and then leaves the room.

Officer Jones steps closer to my bed, pulling out a pad of paper and a pen. “Can you tell me what happened on the 26th?”

“That would explain the lack of a till,” the officer says as he takes notes.

I clear my throat. “When he realized I wasn’t lying, he got all pissed and fired a couple of shots—lucky shots, and then,” I close my eyes, as if the memory is painful to relive, “I passed out. I’m not quite sure how long I laid there before Ms. Andrews came inside, looking for her coat.”

“Detectives have already been down to your bookstore. We couldn’t find a weapon or any other bullet holes.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times Best-selling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the best-selling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South. Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn’t work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.

AVAILABLE – JULY 1st

Veterinary intern Emily can’t believe she wound up in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, instead of the Los Angeles clinic she had always imagined. Now she has to put her plans to move to L.A. on hold for a whole year while she fulfills the obligation of her vet school scholarship.

Then Wyatt, her gorgeous one-night stand from a Reno vet conference, introduces himself as her new boss. And Emily is just as drawn to his seductive looks and quiet strength as she was on that very steamy night. She soon learns that Wyatt isn’t just a laid-back doctor, but a delicious alpha male tempting her away from her carefully laid-out plans…

Excerpt

Emily sat on a fallen log and leaned back. When she was little, she’d loved to try to star watch. In LA, this was tricky because of all the city lights, not to mention smog. Doing it here, in the land of the big sky, was a whole new ball game. “I’m not lonely,” she said to the horse, who snorted again and swished his tail.

“Good. Cuz you’re not alone.”

Two long legs came into her peripheral. Wyatt crouched at her side and looked into her face. “How are you?”

“Fine,” she said.

Nodding, he sat on the log at her side and leaned back, presumably to look at whatever she was looking at. “Pretty night.”

His hands were behind him, his shoulder and a part of his chest brushing her arm and shoulder. Actually it was more like he was encircling her within his arm span, which was considerable. It was a guy move, an alpha guy move, and it made her feel … protected.

She was getting far too used to that, she thought with a sigh. “Where is everyone?”

“Gone,” he said, and there was an odd quality to his voice that had her taking a second look at him. He didn’t take his gaze off the sky so she got him in profile, the tousled hair, the fine lines crinkling the corners of his eyes from long days out in the sun, the square, scruffy jaw. A broad shoulder built to take on the weight of the world.

He’d been working his ass off, here at Belle Haven, helping Dell take up the slack for the out-of-town Jade, and then going home and helping his sisters with the monstrous house they were fixing up. He did so much for everyone, and she found herself wanting to do something for him. Make him smile. Make him relax. Make him forget, even for a few minutes… She nudged him with her shoulder.

He nudged her back and turned to look at her then, his eyes dark and unfathomable behind his glasses.

Chickening out, she turned her head this time, and stared up at the sky as he had been only a few seconds before.

“Emily.”

When she didn’t tear her gaze off the stars, he leaned in and nipped her ear.

Sucking in a breath, she looked at him again. His was still dark, but there were things swirling in those dark depths now. Need. Heat. Affection.

He stole her breath.

“Let the record state,” she said, reaching out to snatch off his glasses, “that I don’t always make the first move.”

He blinked in momentary confusion, and probably also because he could no longer see. He opened his mouth to say something, but she sank her fingers into his hair and kissed him, hard and long and deep.

“Emily,” he said when they broke for air, his voice rough and husky.

She climbed into his lap and then pushed him backwards off the log so that he fell to his back in the wild grass with her straddling him.

Laughing, he slid his hands beneath her top and up her back, drawing out a delicious shiver from her. Then his hands slid slowly down her spine, and into the backs of her jeans. “Let the record also state,” he said in a delicious growl. “Who made the rest of the moves.”

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

THE HUNT FOR TOMORROWis an on-line scavenger hunt that will send participants on a virtual odyssey through twenty-two dystopian futures in search of the answers they need to win. The Hunt is on for one weekend only, although there is no time-limit for completing the course.

Intrepid scavengers must solve clues at each of the dystopian author stops as they progress through the course. The twenty-two participating indie authors all have books included in three dystopian boxed sets – What Tomorrow May Bring, A Taste of Tomorrow, and Shattered Worlds.

In a rare instance of collaborative story-telling, nineteen of the authors will write a progressive short story over nineteen days. Each author will have one day to write between 500-1000 words before passing the story on to the next author to create a collective vision of a new, dark future. The winner of The Hunt will name characters and contribute elements to create this dystopian world, and all participants in The Hunt will receive an advance copy of the story for an exclusive period before it is made available as a free download.

Those who complete the scavenger hunt will be entered into a random draw, and for each correct answer collected along the way they will receive an additional chance to win. Along with the naming opportunity, the Grand Prize also includes a signed copy of each author’s book that is included in the boxed sets, an eBook of all the boxed sets, and the first copy of the progressive story they themselves inspired. During The Hunt, the authors will offer up their own exclusive material, sneak peeks, contests, and giveaways at their individual stops on The Hunt, giving all scavengers multiple chances to win bonus prizes.

The indie authors participating in The Hunt include best-selling, award-winning and emerging writers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. While their dystopian tales might be bleak, cynical, or despairing visions of the future, they ultimately carry messages of hope.

THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW begins at http://huntfortomorrow.blogspot.com on Friday, July 18 at 6:00pm (EST) and ends on Sunday, July 20 at 6:00pm (EST). The Hunt is open to scavengers around the world; there is no cost to enter and one grand prize winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries.

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For years now, resident surgeon Erin Slater has been focused on her career. Sexual frustration has her on edge, and it seems like a wet dream come true when her best friend Jack and his room-mate Simon offer to help her scratch that itch. Their afternoon of debauchery leaves her yearning for more, a craving that Simon, an experienced Dom himself, is only too happy to satisfy. But there’s also Jack, who she’s closer to than anyone else in the world. When emotions factor into the equation, things get complicated, forcing Erin to make a decision which man she will choose – but why can’t she have both?

Genre: Erotica / BDSM / Polyamory / Menage

Expected Publication Date: August 12th 2014

About the Author

Kira Barker has always enjoyed telling stories. It has kept her sane through high school and college, and has become a true passion since. A geek gamer girl herself, she feels at home reading sci-fi and fantasy as much as writing romance. She likes her plots gritty, her smut realistic, and doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty when it comes to research. When she’s not writing, she loves annoying her cats or cruising country roads on her motorcycle.

Fever by Melissa Pearl

New Adult Contemporary Romance

Book 1 – Songbird Series

Singing in the shower takes on a whole new meaning in Melissa Pearl’s first Contemporary Romance.

Ella Simmons does not want to move across the country. But she is, because her boyfriend has persuaded her to join him at UChicago to finish out her college education. Never able to tell him no, she hops on a plane and makes the trek from LA expecting to adjust to life like she’s often forced to, but things are not that simple when she hears a luscious voice singing over her shower wall. His deep, sexy tenor makes her weak in the knees, spreading fire through her limbs and making her question everything about her life and relationship.

Cole Reynolds is on his way out. In his final year at UChicago, the only this he wants to do is finish school and get on with this life. But the sweet voice that interrupts his morning shower turns his world upside down. Compelled to find his shower songbird, he begins a search across campus. The only thing to distract him from this goal is his roommate’s gorgeous girlfriend who’s just arrived from LA – Ella Simmons.

Relationships are put to the ultimate test as future dreams are questioned and friendships are thrown on the line for love.

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan… not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. “Best. Year. Ever!!” She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 – True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.

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It’s the age old question should I read the book or watch the movie? Being a bookish sort I typically default to the former. The Fault In Our Stars had been on my radar for some time but considering the truly staggering size of my TBR list I wasn’t in any real rush to read it. That is until I saw the promos for the upcoming film adaptation.

Like Frye, I was torn. I was aware of the subject matter and had reservations. As insurance I did what I assume any Machiavellian type friend would do and I sent teachergirl73 into this particular coal-mine to properly determine the risk/reward balance involved. You can read her thoughts about it here http://wp.me/p3xI0z-aI.

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

I absolutely despise vomiting, I know what you are thinking, who doesn’t? But I’m going somewhere with this so give me some latitude please. My friend Auralee likens her aversion to crying to my absolute abhorrence of being sick to my stomach, which sadly has lead to more than one disagreement regarding book selection most notably The Time Traveler’s Wife and now The Fault In Our Stars. Apparently I am the only one in this relationship that feels that a good cry is cathartic. I am particularly disappointed in her refusal to risk book related emotional upheaval as she is missing out on a truly extraordinary character in Augustus Waters. As perfectly captured in this oddly fitting quote.

“You realize that trying to keep your distance from me will not lessen my affection for you. All efforts to save me from you will fail.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

I have only been reduced to open mouth sobbing on two occasions when reading, the first time while enjoying the above mentioned novel by Audrey Niffenegger and around the same time the sixth entry in the Harry Potter series Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Obviously I was going through something at the time, it’s quite embarrassing to sit beside your husband weeping inconsolably for what in his mind is absolutely no good reason. Reading the synopsis for The Fault In Our Stars did give me pause, it doesn’t sound like a particularly joyous situation does it? While I don’t have the same aversion to weeping while reading as Auralee, I am somewhat leery of a bad crying hangover, especially considering it’s allergy season and these things can easily get out of hand. As a result I could have spent an interminable amount of time pondering the risk but the impending film debut gave me the impetus to finally crack the spine of the novel.

However The Fault In Our Stars is an oddly uplifting read, yes you likely will shed a tear but you will also laugh out loud and I am happy to say that the film adaptation was absolutely flawless. As I often find when I really love a book or film words fail me. So in answer to the above listed question book or movie? The response is an unequivocal BOTH, you won’t be disappointed.

Published: July 1st 2014 by St. Martin’s Griffin (first published September 6th 2013)

Format: eARC

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Page Count: 272

Source: Blog Tour

Rating: A

“No pictures,” I told Hannah on Skype. “No specifics, no last name, no phone number. Nothing. I don’t want to know you, and I don’t want you to know me. We write together online, that’s it. I’m not looking for a new friend. I’m looking for a writing partner.”

What is it about a bad boy? It has actually been an ongoing debate that my friend and I have (though I secretly might agree with her) on the merits of the bad boy versus the good boy in literature. She is invariably reasonable in her arguments on behalf of why a fondness for bad boys can only lead to disaster and at the time I have trouble adequately supporting my position. Almost immediately afterwards I will often find myself indulging in a story featuring an irascible literary character not unlike Matt Sky who is most definitely a very bad boy.

From best-selling eBook author M. Pierce comes the first novel in a provocative erotic trilogy where an anonymous online writing partnership turns into an uncontrollable, passionate obsession.

BUY LINKS

At twenty-eight, Matt Sky has the perfect life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a massive inheritance, and four national best-sellers — all penned under his airtight alias, M. Pierce.

At twenty-seven, Hannah Catalano is a train wreck. Her boyfriend is a deadbeat and her job is abysmal.

Matt and Hannah meet online as writing partners. Their relationship is safe, anonymous, and innocent…

Until Matt sees a picture of Hannah. Hannah’s picture sparks an attraction Matt is powerless to ignore. When circumstance brings Matt and Hannah together, the strangers begin a love story that’s passionate, poignant, unforgettable, and unstoppable.

REVIEW

I was utterly captivated by this story from the first page. What was supposed to be a simple online writing partnership quickly evolved for Night Owl and Little Bird. Matthew Sky lives in secrecy, only a select few know of his stratospheric success as novelist M. Pierce. The story they were working on together created an unexpected bond. Hannah Catalano in contrast is unemployed, her relationship with her boyfriend is a bust and she is moving in with her parents. Though Matt is wealthy, successful and already attached, he is drawn to his new writing partner and finds himself breaking all of his own rules.

Night Owl seizes the reader immediately and despite the hero’s definite lack of interpersonal skills and the fact that he is cheating on his girlfriend. You can’t help but find yourself beguiled by Matt and Hannah’s tempestuous relationship as unconventionally as it may have begun. I enjoyed every moment of the first book in this trilogy and am anxiously awaiting Last Light‘s publication this fall.

EXCERPT

Matt had a sprawling, high-rise apartment in downtown Denver. I probably should have guessed. The rooms were clean and modern, harshly white, with light hardwood floors and gorgeous area rugs. The fixtures were all of matching brushed metal and the décor was spare but tasteful. I recognized a framed John Singer Sargent print on the wall.

Matt loomed as I padded through the neat, quiet rooms. Each time I smiled at him, I thought I caught a glimmer of anxiety in his expression. Why would he be nervous? Was my opinion really that important to him?

“This place is lovely,” I said. “It’s amazing. I can’t believe it was ever messy.”

“Oh, I had a maid come through,” he said.

“Laurence!” I squealed when I saw the rabbit’s hutch in the living room. The hutch was as swanky as Matt’s apartment, made of beautiful varnished wood with little gold knobs.

“Your lady love is back,” Matt said to the rabbit.

We watched Laurence hop around his hutch for a while. Matt’s hovering was making me uneasy—and strangely aroused. He hadn’t touched me yet, but I knew he planned to. I assumed his bedroom was down the hall.

Was something wrong? Tension and desire made my stomach clench.

We drifted into the kitchen, Matt right at my back.

“Nice.” I swallowed and brushed my hand over the granite countertop. Even the kitchen was immaculate.

I could feel Matt behind me. I thought I heard him take a soft breath. My skin prickled. God, if he didn’t touch me soon—

I exhaled in a rush as Matt brought his chest flush against my back. He pinned me to the edge of the island and cupped my breasts from behind. I moaned.

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What exactly is a Penny Dreadful?

In the first half of the nineteenth century in Britain, developments in printing and an increased literacy rate amongst the general population encouraged the production of publications aimed at a wide range of people, many of whom had little money to spend on reading material and limited reading skills. Thus arose the market for the penny dreadfuls.
Penny dreadfuls were magazines published on inexpensive paper with fairly simple but exciting stories crammed together with often crude, vivid visuals seen at the time as being just as important as the written material.
In 1873, Hotten’s Slang Dictionary defined them as "those penny publications which depend more upon sensationalism than upon merit, artistic or literary, for success." The term is also sometimes used to refer to the stories and serialized novels themselves. http://www.ryerson.ca/~denisoff/dreadful-defined.html

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